Monthly Archives: December 2011

The new year is a time for making resolutions, and the American Red Cross is urging people to resolve to help someone by making a tax-deductible donation to the Red Cross before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Many people make charitable contributions at the end of the year as part of their holiday tradition, and the Red Cross depends on these donations to provide hope, help and compassion. Nationally, donations in December account for about 20 percent of all non-disaster contributions from the public to the Red Cross.

“As 2011 draws to a close, we are asking everyone to remember those who need help by making a contribution to the Red Cross,” said Terri Badour Duckett, CEO of the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter and Georgia Region. “This end-of-year generosity will allow us to help local families affected by disasters, support members of our military, prevent drowning with access to swimming lessons, and care for people in crisis overseas.”

The Red Cross is urging people to “give something that means something” before January 1, 2012 by donating online at www.redcross.org, mailing a check to P.O. Box 101508, Atlanta, GA 30392-1508, or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. In addition, people can still go to the American Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog and buy a symbolic gift. Gifts purchased from the catalog are tax-deductible contributions to the overall Red Cross mission. The catalog include donations for items such as a military comfort kit filled with a phone card, robe, shower shoes, toiletries and an MP3 music gift card for service members who were wounded.

Hundreds of thousands of people needed help from the Red Cross in 2011 when their lives were forever changed by disasters like tornadoes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S., and earthquakes and other disasters around the world. In the U.S., the Red Cross launched 137 large domestic disaster relief operations in 46 states and territories, includingGeorgia, to help neighbors affected by fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. In addition, major Red Cross relief for international disasters included theJapan earthquake and tsunami response, and continuing work following the 2010Haiti earthquake.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

ATLANTA, December 20, 2011 — The American Red Cross helped hundreds of thousands of people whose lives were forever changed by disasters in 2011, from large apartment fires, tornadoes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S. to earthquakes and other disasters around the world.

“The number of lives affected by large disasters in the past year is simply staggering,” said Terri Badour-Duckett, chief executive officer of the Georgia Red Cross. “The Red Cross, our partners, and communities nationwide worked non-stop to offer shelter, food and comfort.”

In the United States, the Red Cross opened 1,019 shelters and provided more than 130,000 overnight stays. 27,622 trained disaster workers served more than 6.7 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 2.6 million relief items. Health and mental health workers provided more than 133,000 consultations and Red Cross workers opened 16,752 cases to help people get on the road to recovery.

In Georgia, the Red Cross opened 12 shelters and provided 490 overnight stays. 702 trained disaster workers served 111, 536 meals and snacks and distributed 13, 851 relief items. Health and mental health workers provided 1,647 consultations and Red Cross workers opened 336 cases to help disaster affected communities. Whether it’s a large tornado or a home fire, disaster is devastating to the affected family.

When James and Doris Thompson had an explosion and fire at their Stone Mountain (GA) home in early October, they were understandably shaken and dismayed to know that their home was completely destroyed. “We lost basically everything,” said James. “Our precious pictures and memories, all gone.”

As it does an average of 3-4 times daily in metro Atlanta, the Red Cross responded, providing the Thompson’s with the resources that they would need to begin their recovery. “The Red Cross gave us monies to allow us to replace our clothing and to buy food in the interim until our insurance kicked in,” said James. “I can’t imagine what we would have done without the Red Cross.”

As Americans solidify their year-end giving plans, they are asked to consider donating to support the Red Cross’ life-saving mission. “Through the generosity of the American people and their donations, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of families like the Thompsons,” said Badour-Duckett. “We encourage everyone to resolve to give something this holiday season with a gift to the Red Cross for neighbors in need.”

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to assist people affected by disasters. If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the metro Atlanta Red Cross at P.O. Box 101508, Atlanta, GA 30392-1508.

About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

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Doris and James Thompson, thankful recipients of disaster assistance,courtesy of the Atlanta Red Cross

James and Doris Thompson, residents of Stone Mountain, GA, had a first-hand encounter with a life-altering disaster. The husband and wife recently experienced a methane gas explosion and subsequent fire at their home of two years. While they were understandably shaken by the disaster, they were also thankful that the Atlanta Red Cross helped to put them on the road to recovery. They are also looking to join the ranks of Atlanta Red Cross volunteers in 2012.

Folks, yesterday was my 59th birthday, and I decided to celebrate by asking for a unique kind of gift – a tweet on Twitter about what someone considers the perfect gift this holiday season. Each time someone responds and tweets using the hashtag #perfectgift, I am giving a $1 contribution to the American Red Cross, up to $10,000 to purchase military comfort kits for our troops. It’s amazing because 91% of every gift goes to people in need.

Even though the nation is facing an economic downturn for a third straight holiday season, a new Red Cross poll shows that the majority of Americans still plan to maintain strong charitable giving this year. Nearly three in five people plan to donate to charity this holiday season. And the report showed that Americans feel even more strongly that the prolonged economic downturn means they should support their neighbors.

The use of Twitter will help get the word out quickly to the nearly 45,000 followers that I have on @craignewmark and their followers, as well as the followers of the @RedCross. The hashtag #perfectgift will help me to track the results so I can determine how much to donate. I am also promoting the campaign on Facebook and here at craigconnects, but the actual donations have to happen via Twitter so that they can be tracked. The campaign will run through the end of December.

The more people like you who participate, the more we can help our troops. Please also check out the American Red Cross’s 2011 Holiday Giving Catalog, which has 25 symbolic gifts representing all Red Cross services that can be purchased in the name of a loved one during the holiday season. Donations can provide food and shelter to a victim of a disaster, purchase phone cards and personal items for a member of the armed forces, or help supply basic necessities to families in desperate need in countries across the world.

For my birthday, and this holiday season, I hope folks will help tell me what they think the perfect gift is, for themselves or to give someone else by tweeting the hashtag #perfectgift.